View full sizeCrab fishing vessels are loading up with crab pots at the Port of Newport in anticipation of the start of the Dungeness crab season at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. The season was originally to start Dec. 1, but was twice delayed.Lori Tobias/The Oregonian

NEWPORT – For the second year running, the Dungeness crab season will open with a minimum price at the docks of $2.30 per pound, tying last season for the all-time opening high.

But retailers fear it's too late to make up for the revenue lost during the monthlong delay in starting the season.

Dungeness season typically opens on Dec. 1, but the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife first postponed it in mid-November until Dec. 15 when tests showed crabs in the region that includes Washington, Oregon and Northern California needed more time to fill out their shells.

2011-12: 14.2 million pounds harvested at an average price of $2.95 per lb.

2010-11: 21.3 million pounds harvested at an average price of $2.30 per lb.

2009-10: 23.2 million pounds harvested at an average price of $1.93 per lb.

2008-09: 12.9 million pounds harvested at an average price of $2 per lb.

2007-08: 12.3 million pounds harvested at an average price of $2.39 per lb.

2006-07: 15.1 million pounds harvested at an average price of $2.18 per lb.

2005-06: 27.5 million pounds harvested at an average price of $1.57 per lb.

2004-05: 33.7 million pounds harvested at an average price of $1.57 per lb.

Source: Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission

That meant many had to forgo their Christmas tradition of fresh Oregon crab, and it's not likely there will be much, if any, in time for New Year's Eve.

This is the first time in the 38 years that Allen Black has owned The Crab Pot in Lincoln City that he hasn't been able to offer crab for the holidays.

"It's disconcerting," Black said Thursday. "Normally, this time of year there is crab being shipped all over the West. It's taken millions out of the economy at Christmas time. Talk about a lump of coal in your stocking."

The last time the season was delayed this late was in 2005-2006, when it opened Dec. 31, according to the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission.

The bright side is when the crab does hit the market, it should be well worth the wait, said Hugh Link, interim director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission.

"These are going to be super high quality," Link said. "The longer they sit in the water, the better they get sometimes. These will be the best quality you can get."

The price agreement opens the way for fishermen to head out to sea at 8:01 a.m. Friday for the 64-hour presoak , a window of time that allows crabbers to set their pots, but not harvest any crab. The presoak is believed to make for a safer opening, allowing the fishermen to get their gear in the water in an orderly manner, rather than racing to get started.

They can start hauling pots at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31.

The opening price is locked in for 24 hours. After that, market conditions dictate how much the state crustacean is worth.

Last year, the crab fleet landed 14.2 million pounds at an average price of $2.95 a pound.

"With a conservative economic multiplier of two, that mean $84.2 million to the Oregon economy," Link said. That's the fish plants, trucking companies, marine stores, and various other support industries that are involved. All those companies are making money off this."

New Year's revelers may see some Oregon crab in niche markets in time for the celebration to begin, but it will likely arrive in most places after the first of the year, Link said. There may also be fresh crab available that came from San Francisco or the Quinault Indian Nation.

But much of that is priced out of range for most local retailers, Black said.

"My regulars want to reserve crab for New Year's Eve. But there's none to reserve at this moment. I don't see a good outcome from this."

At the South Beach Fish Market in Newport, Stephnie Hoff has also felt the pinch. "The big hit for us was Christmas shipping because we ship all over the United States."

Nonetheless, she remains optimistic, believing her customers will be happy to get their fresh Oregon crab even though the holidays are past.

"A lot of people all over the United States really, really love our crab."